“Thou Shalt Call His Name JESUS”
Matthew 1:20–21
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luke 1:30–31
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
Elder G. Homer Durham said:
“How did the Savior of mankind acquire his name in mortality? By revelation. To Joseph of Nazareth, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream, saying:
“‘Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
“‘And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:20–21).
“Here is confirmation of the dictionary meaning of the name, as recorded by Matthew: ‘Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:21).
“Mary also had angelic confirmation of the name, as recorded by Luke:
“‘And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
“‘And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS’ (Luke 1:30–31).
“The formal naming of the child when eight days old is recorded by Luke:
“‘His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb’ (Luke 2:21).
“The name which means ‘God is help,’ ‘the Anointed One,’ ‘the Promised Messiah,’ has thus come to us.”
(“Jesus the Christ: the Words and Their Meaning,” Ensign, May 1984, 15–16.)
